August 18, 2026 | 07:16 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Germany's Bundeswehr military employed roughly 186,700 soldiers as of July 31 this year, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.
The increase is a relatively rare positive headline as Germany and its military try to ramp up recruitment, procurement and defense spending — to meet new NATO targets, appease the Donald Trump administration, and respond to perceived threats from Russia and beyond — encountering a string of setbacks and bottlenecks along the way.
By the mid-2030s, Germany aims to recruit some 70,000 more full-time troops than it currently has on retainer, to reach a full-time force of around 260,000 plus around 200,000 reservists.
Some, including Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, have voiced concerns that this might be difficult to achieve without reintroducing some form of military service.
What's the latest data on Bundeswehr troop numbers?
- The Defense Ministry said the total of around 186,700 put the military inside its recruitment target window for this year with months to spare
- It was aiming to reach between 186,000 and 190,000 personnel in 2026, and anticipates further increases this year
- It also said it was the highest total in 'around 13 years,' soon after the 2011 abolition of the country's former period of mandatory national service for many young men
- The total was an increase of roughly 3,700 troops, or around 2% of the total force, since the previous July
- Applications were also up 26% year-on-year, at 47,300 in total
- New hires from those applications rose 12%, to 15,400
- Roughly 61,500 are career soldiers on permanent contracts
- The bulk of the full-time force, around 113,000 troops, are on long-term temporary contracts
- Short-term contract soldiers and volunteer forces' numbers also rose by about 6%, to around 12,100 in total
How are the new service surveys for young people faring?
The Defense Ministry also published information on the new service availability questionnaires that are trying to boost recruitment among people of school-leaving age.
A survey trying to gauge a person's availability, interest and suitability is sent to young men and women alike. Men are obliged to respond, women and people of other sexes or genders are not.
At present, responding in no way commits you to any form of service, no matter how great an interest you express or aptitude you demonstrate.
The figures do clearly point to the obligation to respond having a major impact on participation.
Of around 194,000 men surveyed, 96% responded. But of 184,000 women and people of other genders questioned, only 4% voluntarily replied.
The ministry said that if you excluded people who responded with a 0 when asked to rank their interest in joining the military from 0 to 10, then the average figure given was a 5.
It said the questionnaires had led to 2,630 people coming in for assessments, and 865 people signing up for active service, starting either this year or in 2027.
"This proportional increase in staff is an 'add-on' — that is, a supplement to the extensive recruitment efforts that have contributed to the very encouraging number of applications and hires mentioned above," the Defense Ministry wrote.
Read: Western Europe Records Hottest June and July on Record
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Hundreds Flee as Belgium Battles Wildfire at German Border
1 hari lalu
A rapidly spreading wildfire has scorched about 2,700 hectares in the High Fens nature reserve near Belgium's border with Germany.
Afghan Allies Still Waiting for the Safety Germany Promised
2 hari lalu
After the Taliban retook power on August 15, 2021, Berlin promised to bring Afghan staff to Germany.
In Germany, Record Heat Meets Climate Action Fatigue
2 hari lalu
Climate action does not seem to be a priority for the German government - despite record temperatures, heat-related deaths and drought.
Why the Rhine Drought is Bad News for Germany's Recovery
7 hari lalu
Water levels on Rhine River, a small but critical artery for goods vital to Germany's industry, remain critically low as a result of weeks of drought.
Germany Reportedly Tightens Migrant Returns
7 hari lalu
Germany has reportedly hardened its stance on the return of migrants and intends to resume migrant transfers to Italy and Greece.
Germany's Heat Death Toll Nears 10,000
18 hari lalu
Germany's 2026 heat-related deaths have already exceeded every annual total since 2016, with more fatalities expected as another heatwave hits.
BMW to Cut Up to 8,000 Jobs
18 hari lalu
Nearly half of BMW's German staff will receive a voluntary redundancy offer in the carmaker's bid to reduce staff by about 8,000 people.
German Chancellor Merz Completes Cabinet Reshuffle
21 hari lalu
After days of confusion, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reshuffled his cabinet.
Berlin Pride Ramming Treated as Suspected Islamist Terror Attack
21 hari lalu
German authorities are treating the deadly Berlin Pride car-ramming as a suspected Islamist terrorist attack by a known Islamic State sympathizer.
Berlin Pride Attack: What We Know So Far
21 hari lalu
A car plowed into a crowd at Berlin's Christopher Street Day celebration in an apparent attack on the LGBTQ+ community. The suspect was shot dead.
